By F. D. Adkins
Standing at the edge of the dark valley, he stares out into the darkness. A low voice in his ear warning him not to go causes him to pause. His stomach knots up, and he almost looks back. But the man told him this was the opportunity of a lifetime. He could make a lot of money. And money was something that would certainly make his life a lot easier right now. That nine-to-five job in the sweltering heat could finally be nothing but a bad memory.
He lifts his foot to take a step, but that voice in his head won’t stop nagging. Closing his eyes, he pictures that new car with the luxury apartment overlooking the beach. Prioritize, he tells himself, and he takes the first step into the alley. With every step into the darkness, the dollar signs in his eyes grow larger, and the life he thinks he wants becomes a reality. So, why does he have no smile? Why can’t he lift his gaze off of the ground? Why does his chest ache and his feet drag? Why is he still searching for the happiness that this new life should have brought him?
He stands on the terrace of that fancy apartment and peers out over the fierce rumbling waves pounding against the shore. How many long for the life I have, and yet, I’m miserable, he debates with himself. Why? Why can’t I be happy? And then as he focuses on the moving water, his mind drifts back to that night in the alley and that voice that called out to him before he took the first step. “Turn around,” he remembers the words. “Turn around.” He can hear the words as if the voice is still there. “Turn around.” Wait. The voice is… He turns around, falls to his knees, and apologizes to his father. And his father pulls him into his arms, and he realizes the life he thought he wanted didn’t matter if he was separated from the love of his father.
***
This week, for some reason, I started thinking about the man that hung on the cross next to Jesus. This man was a criminal paying the price for his crime, and he admitted his wrongdoing as he addressed the man on the other side of Jesus. He said, “…for we receive the due reward of our deeds…,” (Luke 23:41 KJV). After that, he looked over and acknowledged Jesus as Lord. He believed Jesus was the Messiah. And then he asked Jesus to remember him. “And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom,” (Luke 23:42 KJV). Jesus saw the man’s sincerity and welcomed Him with open arms. Jesus didn’t hesitate in extending forgiveness because the very next verse reads, “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise,” (Luke 23:43 KJV).
After I studied these verses, I moved to the parable about the lost sheep. Now, I could never count the number of times I have heard this story, but the message behind it is sometimes hard to absorb. Our Heavenly Father cares about each one of us so much that, no matter how many freely accept Him, He will still chase after that one lost soul. Why? Because He doesn’t want to be without any of us in Heaven. 2 Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance,” (KJV).
It doesn’t matter if a person has taken a small step away or ran a whole marathon into the darkness, Jesus is standing there right behind that person with arms wide open. All that person needs to do is turn around. Jesus loves every one of us so much that He gave His life.
The story at the beginning is fictional, but I think it depicts how drifting away from God is gradual. But no matter how far away we think we have gone, He is there to welcome us back.
“Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” Luke 15:10 KJV
